IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/vrs/hjobpa/v14y2023i2p15-32n9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Challenges of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in Engineering: South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Mtambo Xolani Gladman

    (Graduate School of Business Leadership, South Africa)

  • Lubbe Sam

    (School of Management and Administration, STADIO Higher Education, South Africa)

  • Ohei Kenneth N.

    (Management Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa)

Abstract

The small, medium and micro enterprise sector is an economic engine for many countries. Realizing the potential of small, medium, and micro enterprises, the government of the Republic of South Africa has put a burden on itself to create 90% of jobs through small, medium, and micro enterprises through the implementation of the 2030 National Development Plan. Despite these initiatives, the failure rate of these enterprises in South Africa is still high and continues to increase. This research aims to investigate the challenges of small, medium and micro enterprises that operate in the formal economy, with the focus narrowed down to small, medium and micro enterprises that provide engineering services to engineering-intensive firms in the public and private sectors in South Africa. The target is a sample of member companies of Consulting Engineers South Africa, as well as random engineering service firms that render similar services. In general, engineering services’ small, medium and micro enterprises mainly depend on owners’ limited capital, which limits growth initiatives. Moreover, the absence of adequate resources, business facilities and specialised equipment puts small, medium and micro enterprises at a competitive disadvantage and, therefore, causes stagnation. Government’s initiatives are not well publicised and, therefore, small, medium and micro enterprises are not well informed to capitalise on such initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Mtambo Xolani Gladman & Lubbe Sam & Ohei Kenneth N., 2023. "The Challenges of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in Engineering: South Africa," HOLISTICA – Journal of Business and Public Administration, Sciendo, vol. 14(2), pages 15-32, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:hjobpa:v:14:y:2023:i:2:p:15-32:n:9
    DOI: 10.2478/hjbpa-2023-0013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.2478/hjbpa-2023-0013
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.2478/hjbpa-2023-0013?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. MOHAJAN, Haradhan Kumar, 2017. "Two Criteria For Good Measurements In Research: Validity And Reliability," Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, Universitatea Spiru Haret, vol. 17(4), pages 59-82.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Antonio Cejudo & Víctor Jesús Moreno-Alcaraz & Riccardo Izzo & Francisco Javier Robles-Palazón & Pilar Sainz de Baranda & Fernando Santonja-Medina, 2020. "Flexibility in Spanish Elite Inline Hockey Players: Profile, Sex, Tightness and Asymmetry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Mohajan, Haradhan, 2022. "Four Waves of Feminism: A Blessing for Global Humanity," MPRA Paper 114328, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 09 Jul 2022.
    3. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "Families of Grounded Theory: A Theoretical Structure for Novel Researchers," MPRA Paper 116752, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 24 Jan 2023.
    4. Mohajan, Haradhan, 2022. "An Overview on the Feminism and Its Categories," MPRA Paper 114625, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Jul 2022.
    5. Mohajan, Devagit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2022. "Profit Maximization Strategy in an Industry: A Sustainable Procedure," MPRA Paper 114675, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 21 Jun 2022.
    6. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "Mathematical Model for Nonlinear Budget Constraint: Economic Activities on Increased Budget," MPRA Paper 117299, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Mar 2023.
    7. Mokeddem Allal, 2020. "How Artificial Intelligence Can Augment the Collection of Scientific Literature," European Journal of Engineering and Formal Sciences Articles, European Center for Science Education and Research, vol. 4, May - Aug.
    8. Lima Ana & Cruz Marco & Pacheco Jorge, 2024. "The impact of social media marketing efforts on buying intentions within the brewing sector," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 19(4), pages 618-643.
    9. ROY, Lia & MOLLA, Rashed & MOHAJAN, Haradhan Kumar, 2021. "Cost Minimization Is Essential For The Sustainable Development Of An Industry: A Mathematical Economic Model Approach," Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, Universitatea Spiru Haret, vol. 21(1), pages 37-71.
    10. Mohajan, Haradhan, 2022. "Cost minimization analysis of a running firm with economic policy," MPRA Paper 114951, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 04 May 2022.
    11. Mfanufikile Mabuza & Jorine T. Ndoro, 2023. "Borich’s Needs Model Analysis of Smallholder Farmers’ Competence in Irrigation Water Management: Case Study of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    12. repec:eur:ejfejr:27 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2022. "Sensitivity Analysis among Commodities and Coupons during Utility Maximization," MPRA Paper 115554, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 04 Oct 2022.
    14. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "Bulimia Nervosa: A Psychiatric Problem of Disorder," MPRA Paper 117258, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Mar 2023.
    15. Dr. Nuwatuhaire Benard & Dr. Rwabutogo Zogeye Marcel & Janan Mubehamwe & Dr. Phanual Murenzi, 2023. "Assessing the Relationship between Female Head Teachers’ Supportive Leadership Behaviours and Organizational Effectiveness of Secondary Schools in Rwanda, Nyagatare District," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(11), pages 1292-1306, November.
    16. Akhmad Mustafa & Rachman Syah & Mudian Paena & Ketut Sugama & Endhay Kusnendar Kontara & Irwan Muliawan & Hidayat Suryanto Suwoyo & Andi Indra Jaya Asaad & Ruzkiah Asaf & Erna Ratnawati & Admi Athirah, 2023. "Strategy for Developing Whiteleg Shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) Culture Using Intensive/Super-Intensive Technology in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, January.
    17. Xueying Wu & Wenyi Zhao & Tianshan Ma & Ziyu Yang, 2019. "Improving the Efficiency of Highway Construction Project Management Using Lean Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-27, July.
    18. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2022. "Importance of Total Coupon in Utility Maximization: A Sensitivity Analysis," MPRA Paper 115553, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Sep 2022.
    19. MOHAJAN, Haradhan Kumar, 2021. "Estimation Of Cost Minimization Of Garments Sector By Cobb-Douglas Production Function: Bangladesh Perspective," Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, Universitatea Spiru Haret, vol. 21(2), pages 247-267.
    20. Luís Monteiro & Matilde Monteiro-Soares & Cristiano Matos & Inês Ribeiro-Vaz & Andreia Teixeira & Carlos Martins, 2022. "Inappropriate Prescriptions in Older People—Translation and Adaptation to Portuguese of the STOPP/START Screening Tool," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, June.
    21. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "Sensitivity Analysis for Utility Maximization: A Study on Lagrange Multipliers and Commodity Coupons," MPRA Paper 117077, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 06 Jan 2023.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:vrs:hjobpa:v:14:y:2023:i:2:p:15-32:n:9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.sciendo.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.